Quality Specialist (Lab)

Come join the Tillamook Team where our philosophy is “Do Right By Every Bite.” As an independent farmer-owned cooperative, we have been guided by good, honest values since 1909. We believe in putting quality over profit, natural over artificial, and that hard work can never be outsmarted. We’re taking a stand for real food because everyone deserves better.

We invite members of all diverse communities to join our workforce. At Tillamook, we believe that inclusion and diversity are central to our cultural strategy. In order to achieve our growth ambition and compete and win in the marketplace, we believe we make better decisions and build stronger teams when we invite and rely on diverse perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds and cultures into our work and to fuel our innovation and growth. To us this means creating a climate of inclusion where all employees feel valued and a sense of belonging. We believe this will make us a better consumer brand and employer.

About you:

What does real food mean to you? Is your favorite dish a cheesy casserole? Perhaps a decadent and indulgent ice cream? Either way, your identification with food is important to us. People who fit well here at Tillamook have a commitment to quality in everything they do. Our team members understand our vision, contribute to our mission, thrive on innovative thinking, hard work and good, honest values.

About us:

Our team members understand our vision, contribute to our mission, thrive on innovative thinking, hard work and good, honest values. We live by these shared values: We are Good Stewards, We believe in Uncompromising Quality, We work as One Team, We Play to Win, and We Genuinely Care for each other.

What you will do:

The Quality Specialist is responsible for the evaluation of dairy products through the senses of sight, smell, touch and taste and to assist with administering a grading-program products to conduct sensory analysis of product for quality control. Also may be responsible for providing administrative support to the sensory and cheese departments with timesheets, maintaining policies and procedures, preparing various department reports, compiling and analyzing data, administering processes specific to departments, and acts as administrative liaison.

Here’s a day in the life:

• Administers Grading-Program Products
• Accurately analyzes and grades dairy products
• Reports and records daily test and grading results accurately
• Designs and completes problem-solving research relating to sensory and quality procedures
• Monitors short and long term drifts in the quality aspects of dairy products
• Recommends and justifies new testing procedures and equipment as appropriate
• Recommends changes in disposition of product relative to commodity and branded sales
• Assists with and enters month end inventories of sensory supplies
• Monitors supplies and materials to meet production needs
• Communicates with operations groups as needed
• Prepares department activity reports including compiling and completing weekly department quality report; weekly yields, support hours etc.
• Provides general administrative support for the Sensory and Cheese Departments
• Maintains SOPs and department policies
• Composes, prepares and proof letters and memos
• Communicates information to TCCA staff and departmental employees through different means
• Prepares notices and minutes of meetings
• Answers department telephones
• Creates and produces labels as needed
• Keep all records on file and organized so that information is accessible for data withdrawal at all times
• Communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, supervisors and the general public
• Utilize a computer with intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and ERP systems. MS Navision (NAV) and SharePoint knowledge is a plus
• Act as a team player and be able to interact with staff at all levels of the company
• Work under pressure, meet deadlines, and be flexible in working on multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrate excellent time-management skills with the ability to work independently with little supervision
  
  

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• High school diploma is required. Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Sensory, or a related field is preferred
• 3 years of experience in dairy sensory or working laboratory
• Forklift Certification
  
  

Physical Requirements:

Administration:

• Individual work space, desk, and computer. May not be temperature controlled, could have loud background noises.
• May include entering production facility and walking on uneven, slippery surfaces and encountering forklift traffic.
• Requires sitting majority of shift, can include standing and walking to accomplish tasks.
• May require stooping, bending and crouching to file, retrieve supplies.
• Occasional lifting of 25 pounds.
  
  

Production:

• Space can be crowded with manufacturing equipment and lift trucks to be aware of, noisy, some areas can be dusty, can encounter extremes in temperature.
• Requires standing entire shift, walking on uneven, slippery floors, stooping, bending and crouching and climbing ladders.
• Duties may include repetitive motion of hands and lifting up to 55 pounds.
  
  

Industry leading benefit and reward programs:

We offer outstanding benefits to our employees. For more information, please visit the careers page: .

We are committed to creating a diverse culture and inclusive conditions where all employees are heard, valued, and feel a sense of belonging. We rely on different perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds, and cultures to inform our work, to help us be better as a brand and as an employer, and to fuel our success. We are seeking talent from a wide range of diversity, perspectives, and backgrounds to join our exceptional organization and help us build our future.

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a Drug-Free Workplace. EEO

TCCA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability status (including those related to pregnancy and childbirth), protected veteran status, membership/non-membership in a labor organization, or any other characteristic protected by law.